Full Throttle

(NOTE, this is part of the Good Old Days series of posts. When applicable they will highlight various points of interest from that weeks Sprint Cup or Nationwide venue or geographic area.)

The Tennessee geographic area has a long and storied history that predates the current Track in Nashville by several dacades.

Nashville Speedway in it’s original incarnation hosted Cup events from 1959, an event won by Joe Weatherly through 1984 Pepsi 420, an event that had Geoff Bodine take the checkers ahead of Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Ron Bouchard and Bobby Allison. Here is an outstanding photo gallery of Nashville from 1960. The image above is Ned Jarrett in his ‘63 Courtesy Ford on the Nashville high banks.

Bobby Isaac dominated 1970 the Nashville 420, finishing two laps ahead of the field. Only nine cars ­finished the grueling race, which is ­televised in part by ABC Sports.

Newport Speedway in Newport, TN held two events both won by Glenn “Fireball” Roberts in 1956-57.

Kingsport Speedway located in Kingsport, TN held three Cup events ‘69-’71, Richard Petty won the first two and Bobby Issac won the last event in 1970. Here is a set of excellent 1970’s era photos including NASCAR legends Sam Ard, Jack Ingram, Harry Gant and ‘73 track champion L.D. Ottenger. At the bottom of the page is the Dave Marcis #2 Chevy II inside the Dale Earnhardt Sr. #8 Chevy II in 1978

Smoky Mountain Raceway in Maryville, TN (now known as The Mountain Raceway Park) held 12 Cup events between 1965 and 1971. Dick Hutcherson won the inaugural event with Richard Petty taking the last two in ‘71 and ‘72.

On July 20, 1969 the Volunteer 500 was flagged off at Bristol Motor Speedway. David Pearson prevailed after 500 wreck filled laps in the first event on the 1/2-mile oval since the turns were redesigned and banked to a staggering and now familiar 36 degrees.